Explosive.



' To all 'inlmm it may conre'm:

Bo it known that I, CHARLES (hum), :1 citizen of the Re (lent of-Poris, l

to. 895,254. I

'onnrnn STA EXPLOSIVE.

CHARLES GIRARD, t PARIS, FRANCE.

Specification of Letters Potent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed March 27, 1905. Serial No. 252,420.

publicof France, and resirn-nce, have invented new and 5 useful .lmprovonmnts in Ex )lOSlVtS, which im rowoment-s are full set y orth in the following specification.

mixing cortai ing point, a no) lower one (liont W] I t has been known for at long time that by n substances with a 5i v0.1 melt npound is obtained, having a lting point than that of the ingreiioh nmlts at the highesttum turn. lthas been found that by nitro-derivatiYes with each other in t portion of their pommixing ho promoloculnr weight, compounds'are obtainod, the moltingpoint of l which is not only lower than the melting points of the constituents, but undergoes a. nmximum reduction. It'lllllSt be pointed out here that the preparation of these com pounds can be effected without any difficulties. It is sufiicicnt to bring together weighed quantities, proportional to the mo- -lecnlar weights of each of the constituentswhich are to form the mixture in question, to mix them in a thorough manner and to melt them on a water bath. The mass is then cast. After the cooling, it is ready'fo'r the use for which it is intended.

The results of experiments are-given in the 3 following table:

Any change made in these proportions, raises the melting point of the mixture, for mst'unce:

' Melting point of the mtxture.

- Biultrotoluene. Meltingpointil'. 1molecul'e182 gr. Bhntrotknzcne. Meltlngpoint 86. 1 molecule msgr. 40 Do. Do. Do Do. D0. Do. Do. Do. 84 gr. 47' Do. Do. Do Do. D0. Do. Do. Do. Do. 42 gr. 54 Do. Do. Do. Do. D0. 4- Do. Do. Do. Do. 33.6 gr. 56" Do. Do. Do. Do. Do; Do. Do. Do. Do. lasgr. 64

Hell-lug polnt of the mlxtuxe.

Blnltrobenzeno. Moltingpolrztfi. lmoleculoltisgr. -i Blultrotoluene. Meltlnggiotutfli 1molccule182gr. 40

Do. 1210. Do. Do. D0. Do. Do. Do. Do. 91 gr. 4a Do. Do. L0. B0. D0.- Do. Do. Do. Do. 45.5gr. 54 Do. Do. Do. Do. D0. Dr. Do. Do. Do- 36.4 gr. Do. Do. D Do. D0. Do. Do. Do. Do. 18.2 gr. 59

l Meltingpoint I of the mixture.

4 r 1 flnmtrophenol. Meltlngpomtlm. 1mol0cule229gr. Trinltrocresol. -Meltingpointl07. 1molecule243gl. 70 Do. Do. Do. 04 D0. Do. 5 Do. Do. 5 Do. 121.5 gr. 78 Do. Do. no. 110.. D0. Do. Do. Do. Do. 60.1 r. as" Do. Do. Do. Do. D0. Do 0 Do. Do. Do. 48.6 gr. i 101" Do. Do. Do. Do. -Do. Do Do. Do. ,5 Do. 24.33:. I18

7 My U \felt' g p tut mixture.

Trixflt-roercsol. Mcltingpoint 107". lmoleculeflsgr. Trinitrophenol. Meltlngpolnt122. lmolecule229gr 70 I Do. Do. Do. Do. D0. Do. Do. Do. Q Do. 114.5gr I 80 Do. Do. Do. Do. D0. Do-- Do. Do. 5 Do. 57.2gt 59* Do. Do. Do. Do. D0. Do. Do. Do. g Do. 45.8gr 98". Do. D01 Do. Do. D0. Do- Do. Do. Do. 2295:. 101

By means of these components or constituents which play the part of combustibles, it is possible to reduce rcmarkableexplosives, by mixing t em either with suitable oxidizing agents such as alkaline chloratcs and perchlorates, alkaline and ammonium nitrates, without any addition of hydrocarbons, oils, etc. or with nitric ethers',more particularly nitroglycerin,the latter method producing d amites inw-hich the nitroglycerin does not eeze even at averylow mn erature. Moreover, some of the constituents, the suc cinct enumeration of which has been judiciously selected, are in themselves powerful explosives, for instance, mixtures of picric and trinitrocresylic acids, the meltin points of which are sulliciently low to enah 0 them to be cast into shells and other hollow projectiles at the temperature of the water bath These types of explosives are the follow- I. Explosives obtained by direct mixture of an oxidizing agent or! supporter of combustion wiZh the combustible represented by the combination of two nitro-substances.

(1) Chlorate of potash 72% Azobenzene 182 gr. bini-- trotoluene 182 gr 28% Nitrate of ammonia..- 63% Azobenzene 182 gr. binitrotoluene 182 gr 37 Perchlorate of ammonia- 69% Azoben'zene 182 gr. binitrotoluene-182 gr- 31% Equimolec lar mixture of trini rocrcsol and )icric acid- Cliloratc of potassium- 55% Composition No. 5 con aining trinitrocres ol and picric acid is capable of being exploded by action of a detonator, and is peculiarly fitted without other admixture for charging projectiles, and )ossesses the advantage o permitting the s ell to be char ed withoutdanger. This composition a so possesses a. power exceeding each of the. nitro bodies taken singly. Y

In view of the lowering of the melting point, it is no longernecessary to use oil or any other substance intended to give to the combustible liquid the shape which /alone enables the su porter of combustion to be completely inc osed, and by its fluidity reduces the sensitiveness of the mixture. The operation can be carried on at as low temper-.

ature as desired, by judiciously choosing the v constituents.

The nitro-co1nbination or com 'ound is melted on the water bath in a suita le resercombustion is added to it, such as a chlorate, perchlorate or nitrate, ground to fine powder, and incorporated until it becomes perfectl homogeneous. The product thus obtained: very plastic at the temperature at which the operation takes place, is passed through a; screen No. 20 or 30 Where it is reduced to grains, and on returning to the normal temperature, forms a dry powder which can be polished. added, if desired, various combustibles such as starch, sugar, metals in powder, etc. The oxidizing substance can also be soaked for a. certain time, after having been molded to the most suitable dimensions, in one of the compounds hereinbefore described, maintainedin the state of fusion. A very homogeneous explosive is thus obtained, which does not exude within the limits of temperature determined-by the melting point of the combustible which has been used in its preparation.

The following composition could be given, by way of example 4 point 34.5 o. 28%

To these mixtures could be Am moniunl nitrate i 63% .lzobimlroiolu ene; 37%

Perchlorate of ammonia 69% -Azobmitrotolnene 31% Chlorate of [)QlfLSll 79% Azpd mnndoozohen zone (incl ting point 59 C.) 21-9},

(Tl-locale of potash i- 65% Picroazobenmne (m e l t 1 u g v point 51 C.) Chlorateof potash r -c 76% Amparonit-minim (melt-mg point 60 C.)

The abor proportions are calculated so as to-obtnin as final products oxid of carbon and water, but they could, of course, be modified so Lo bring about. :1 more orless complete combnsiion, according to thc=force that the explosive required to have and tolhe conditions in which it will have lobe used. in

this ii'lj, a whole ga-n'iut or scale of explosires could he obtained, from the most pow-- 'crluL with a high detona-t-ing temperature, to the blasting powders for m nes.

- Explosives obtained by the addition to nitric eikClS, more pwri'iculm'ly to n-zirogl-yccrzn, of combs-muons q! Miro-substances.

.: zobcnzeue 182 gr. azotolu- -ene ZIOgr .4-.. 5

Nit-roglycerin 95 f It is well known l'huti'oreign substances added in small quantities to nitroglycerin,

thmn melts a out 59 C. In this we it is posble to dissolve in nitroglycerin the 'onzbimuions hereinbct'ore described of ozohonzol and of its honnzlogues, which would .he a dangerous thing if done with azohenzene alone which melts at. (56.5" (I. This latter SljlSlfillCFt has the property which itshares wit? certain nitrates of considerab y lower in; the. freezing temperature of nitroglycerin. Moreover, ezolmuzcne is a. neutral body b. cannot cause any alteration or deyccrin, whichucchlents Hired with certain nil-roderivm ives which are very often 12 acre or less sc -,2, and 'i'lnnlly itcoonnunicutes to the dyfollowing equation.

- t-rinitrocresol.

is Well known, in fact, that nitroglycerin contains an excess of oxygen which is liberated at. t he. xnoinent'of its detonation, as per I Carbonic acid Water The free oxygen can oxidize the carbon and the hydrogen contained in the compounds added to the nitric other, and the formationof gsses resulting .rom this action, increases the ewe!" of the ex )losive.

T e proportion oi intro-compounds to be added to intro-glycerin for obtaining all theseadvantages, is approximately 5%.

The preparation of dynernites by meansof this recess consists-simply in dissolvin the com ination in nitro-glyccrin at its mating temperature, and then in effecting thcgela' tinizetion' or the addition of kieselguhr in the usual manner. i

All lhsthas been said, applies to-nitric 'ethers of the fatty series.

"If it is desired to manufacture smokeless powders, nit-ro-cellulose or mixtures of nitrocellulose are dissolved in a. suiteblesolvenl; containing in solution the desired quantity of the combination selected.

3. Explosives that can be used for ckorging k91 low projectiles (shells, torpedoes etc.)

Picric acid 229 gr. or 9 .5%.

'lrinitrocresol, 243 gr. or 51.5%. Trinit-rocresol 243 gr. or 51.7%. Trinitrotelwgl, 227 gr. or 48%.

Shells intended for the destruction of bat teries of artillery, military works, monument-s etc. are at present generally charged either with molt-en; icrie acid or inc-lien In 0 er to charge the shells, which must be heeled, in order toavoid a too rapid crystallization, the substance intendedtureof its melting point in a bath of clfiorid of calcium, that is to say, to the temperature of 122 C, for for trinitrocreso Without wishing to maintain that the two intro-substances can alter in the conditions in which their melting generally takes place, is nevertheless necessary to point out-that- 1t.

for filling them, is brought to lthe mowersicr'ie acid, and 107-188 C.

is always advisable, from the pointof view of I safety, to heat the intro-bodies or substances, whatever they be, to the lowesLp-ossible degree. With the mixture by molecular weights, the melting point; is lowered to 70 The two'substa-nces in the form of powder are thoroughly mixed and mcltedin' a water bath. In this way the work will be always carried on below the melting point of-the two compounds,thatis to say, in the best possible conditions as regards safety,

"Althou h I have slmciiically claimed po-- in nulecular proportions, heating the mixture to liquefy the same, and then while said resulting product is in liquid condition and at a temperature below the melting point of either of said derivatives incorporating there'- with an oxidizing agent substantially as de scribed.

'2. A process of makin ex losives consistin'g inincorporating a p are 'ty of different nitroderivatives of aromatic hydro-carbons in molecular proportions, heating the mixture to'liquefy the same, end then while said resulting productjs in liquid condition and at a temperature below the melting point of either of said derivatives mcorporating therewith a metallic chlorate;

3'. A process of making explosives consistiug in incorporating trinitrocresol and picnc acid in molecular proportions, heating said mixture to liquefy the same, and then while said resulting product is in a molten condition and at a temperature below the melting point of either of said bodies incorporatmg an oxidizing agent substantially as described.

' 4. A process of mill-Ling explosives consisting in incorporating trimtrocresol and picric acid in molecular proportions, heating said.

mixture toliquefy tlie same and then while said resulting product is in a molten condition and at a temperature below the melting point of either of said bodies incorporating a metallic chlorate.

5. An explosive containing pieric acidend trinitrocresol in molecular proportions, and

potassium chlorate. p

6. An explosive containing picric acid and trinitrocresol in molecular proportion and a,

metallic chlorate.

In testimony whereof I have'signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. g

CHARLES GIRARD. Witnesses:

JULES ZOUSSET, EMILE LEDVEL. 

